The Top-Earning African-American Stars

Forbes - February 4, 2008 4:30 PM PST
Story photo: The Top-Earning African-American StarsCharles Rex Arbogast/AP PhotoForbes
Just 15 years old and already winner of six junior championships, a young Tiger Woods told a magazine reporter in 1991, "I'm not out just to be the best black player. I want to be the best golfer ever."

Mission accomplished. Today Woods, 32, is ranked at the top of the sport, with 13 major championship wins under his belt. Between June 2006 and June 2007, Woods banked $100 million, more than any athlete in history. He is an endorsement darling, flashing that mega-watt smile for Gilette, General Motors and, of course, Nike. Presuming he continues to dominate the green, Forbes estimates that Woods will become the world's first sports billionaire within a decade.

He ranks No. 2 on Forbes' list of the Top-Earning African-American Stars, behind media queen Oprah Winfrey. Between June 2006 and June 2007, Winfrey, 54, pocketed $260 million. That astonishing salary -- it works out to some $712,000 a day -- crowns her not just the nation's top-earning African-American, but also the highest-paid entertainer in Tinseltown, black or white.

In Pictures: The 10 Top-Earning African-American Stars

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Worth $2.5 billion at last check, Winfrey enjoys revenues from a string of successful enterprises, including her long-running daytime talk show (and stakes in chat-fest protegees Dr. Phil and Rachael Ray), magazine, satellite radio channel, and Broadway show ("The Color Purple"). In January she announced the creation of her own eponymous network, a partnership with Discovery Communications, a unit of Discovery Holding Co., slated to debut late next year.

All the entertainers on the list are the best in their respective businesses. Will Smith, who collected $31 million, is arguably Hollywood's most reliable box office opener. His latest flick, the apocalyptic thriller "I Am Legend," has to date grossed $542 million, making it the seventh-highest grossing film on the planet last year. Smith, 39, commands a hefty $20 million paycheck per film, plus a chunk of the box office grosses.

With 10 Billboard-topping albums, rapper-turned-mogul Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter ranks second alongside Elvis Presley as having the most No. 1 albums in history (the Beatles have the most). And five years after he was the first overall NBA draft pick, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, 23, has already racked up an astonishing list of record titles: youngest player ever named Rookie of the Year; and youngest player to score 2,000 points in a season, among many other superlatives.

This list is a snapshot of a 12-month period ending June 1, 2007. Following that date, once Forbes had closed the books on its valuations, Coca-Cola acquired SmartWater for $4.2 billion. Rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson smartly traded his endorsement services for a small stake in the niche beverage company (there's even a 50 Cent-branded energy drink called Formula 50). His take: $100 million.

In July, Dwight Freeney, 27, became the highest-paid defensive player in football with a six-year, $72 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts, of which $30 million was paid upfront. Boxer Floyd Mayweather enjoyed his best year ever. He collected a total of $50 million for his May and December fights against Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton, respectively.

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comments 1-10 of 75  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • Christinne
    Oprah is a lady? Just in appearance. But since ure not aware or dont want to be aware about what Hollywood/entertainment industry is all about, well, u can say she's 3 times a lady. Mama Africa? The girls from the xpensive school she opened in South Africa were sexually harassed/abused, u knew that? Wake up, fools and stop worshipping all deceivers called artists. But I think there'
    report abuseposted July 28, 2008 7:07 AM PDT
  • Christinne
    Oprah is a lady? Just in appearance. But since ure not aware or dont want to be aware about what Hollywood/entertainment industry is all about, well, u can say she's 3 times a lady. Mama Africa? The girls from the xpensive school she opened in South Africa were sexually harassed/abused, u knew that? Wake up, fools and stop worshipping all deceivers called artists. But I think there'
    report abuseposted July 28, 2008 7:07 AM PDT
  • chijioke
    oprah is a lady to talk about anytime,she a mother to those who do not have mother she is always there for the poor.i use to call her mama africa as i call mandela papa africa.no man in africa know what is love like mandela.can somebody help me tell mugebe that what he did was wrong to people of africa.
    report abuseposted July 15, 2008 6:12 PM PDT
  • Marie c
    YA'LL SHOU LEAV RACIST OUT OF THIS. JUST BE YOUR SELF,AND TRUST IN GOD,THAT WE ALL CAN BE BLESS,TO HAVE A DIFF.COLOR IN THE WHITE HOUSE,BECAUSE JESUS LOVES ALL RACES. NOW IF YOU LOVE JESUS,IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHO BE THE PRESIDENT.SO STOP BLAMING ANYBODY.JUST PRAY PEOPLE. WE ALL SHOULD LOVE ONEANOTHER THANK YOU.
    report abuseposted June 11, 2008 6:36 PM PDT
  • ProudArmyWifey
    James M: You should go hang yourself "porch monkey"...
    report abuseposted May 30, 2008 11:08 AM PDT
  • dlove
    comments like that, that push blacks to strive to become successfully. So maybe you should go out on the porch and see what you can learn dumb ass..get a clue!!!!
    report abuseposted May 29, 2008 5:52 PM PDT
  • dlove
    James M-damn I didnt think they still made %@!*#s anymore-oops I was wrong "there's one left". For you to post a racisist comment like that. Hang this dumb ass, food for the mind wake-up dumb and blind. That day you living in is over! So get a clue and dont hate, just cause ya sorry ass wishing you could have or get what some black americans have today-dont be mad. its j
    report abuseposted May 29, 2008 5:50 PM PDT
  • James M
    all the porch monkeys should be hanging from a oak tree
    report abuseposted May 29, 2008 2:24 PM PDT
  • Armon D
    You lnow I thought about this word call incest; So why is it so least said unlike such and such was killed last night in a robbery. (It's like one of them things makes you say hum.) LOL
    report abuseposted May 10, 2008 8:24 AM PDT
  • What's that up there about somebody not"doind black websites very well", what is that supposed to mean? Why make these comments? If any other race would have made this comment they would have been a racist in your eyes wouldn't they? What a double standard you have.
    report abuseposted April 17, 2008 10:23 AM PDT
comments 1-10 of 75  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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